Belgium's master criminal nabbed in Thailand

BANGKOK, July 31 (TNA) - A Belgian man who is allegedly a master criminal most wanted by Belgian authorities for many offences was arrested in Thailand Tuesday. Police Major General Supisarn Phakdinaruenart, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, Police Major Genera Monthon Ngoenwattana, Commander of the Foreign Affairs Division, and representatives of the Belgian Embassy to Thailand held a press conference in Bangkok on the arrest of the 57-year-old Belgian man, identified as Marc De Schutter. The authorities said that the suspect was arrested at a house in the Rawai locality of Muang district in Thailand's southern resort Phuket province, where the Thai police also seized computers, mobile phones, documents and bank accounts from the suspect. Police Major General Supisarn told the press conference that the arrested suspect is Belgium's most wanted criminal, as he has been accused of murdering his wife and defrauding an oil company, among others. According to the Thai police, a Belgian court has ordered a 20-million-euro fine on the suspect, who also allegedly operated narcotic and casino businesses in many countries. Earlier, the Belgian Embassy in Bangkok and Thailand's Office of the Attorney General had asked police to arrest the Belgian man, who also allegedly had criminal networks in several countries and escaped to Thailand last year. The arrested Belgian national admitted that he was wanted under an arrest warrant but saying that he had traveled to Thailand only for business. The Thai police will send him to the Office of the Attorney General, which will then arrange for his extradition. (TNA)